The Ruling on Listening to Islamic Anthems

Question:
There has been a lot of talk about the topic of Islamic anthems, and people are confused about this. Questions regarding this subject have come in more than once, so we ask you, Your Eminence, to clarify and explain it.

Answer:
Islamic anthems require detailed consideration; one cannot give a general answer about them. There must be a distinction. Any poem or anthem, whether it is called an Islamic anthem or otherwise, must be free from anything that contradicts the pure Shari'ah. If it is free from anything that contradicts the pure Shari'ah in praising the religion, praising good morals, praising generosity and liberality, encouraging jihad in the path of Allah, encouraging the protection of homelands from enemies, encouraging sincerity to Allah in deeds, encouraging dutifulness to parents, honoring the neighbor, and other such Islamic matters, in clear styles that contain nothing contradicting the pure Shari'ah, then there is no harm in it. This is like what al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said about poetry: it is like prose; its good is good and its bad is bad.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And Allah said: [Surat al-Shu'ara: 224-227]. These are the ones who are excepted, if their poetry is sound and falls within righteous deeds, then they are excepted. And whoever’s poetry does not fall within that, by calling to what contradicts the Shari'ah, then his poetry is not good, and it should not be permitted. Rather, it should be left until his poetry conforms to the Shari'ah of Allah and is free from what contradicts it.
So every anthem or anthems should be presented to the people of knowledge, to a committee of scholars, who examine and refine them. Once they have refined them and clarified that they are permissible, they may be presented in the school or elsewhere. These anthems are not accepted from just anyone; rather, a committee must look into them. If they are from the Ministry of Education, then from the Ministry of Education; if they are from the institutes, then from the institutes; from whatever source these anthems come, they are not permitted until they are presented to a committee of scholars and people of insight, known for their uprightness and knowledge of the Shari'ah, so that they may examine them. This is because leniency in this matter may lead to much evil. So they must be presented to scholars known for their knowledge, virtue, and Islamic zeal, who will examine them, point out any defects in them, and then guide the people of anthems to what is better.

Question : Naturally, in your opinion, Your Eminence, these anthems should not lead to neglecting the listening to the Noble Qur'an, because some of the brothers complain that these anthems have diverted them from listening to the Qur'an and dhikr?

Answer: It must have a specific, short time, so that it does not occupy them with what is more important, not from their lessons, nor from the Qur'an, nor from dhikr. It should have a short time if it is desired, either before the lessons, or after the lessons, or during the lesson, if there is a benefit related to the Islamic interest, as directed by the committee—the committee of scholars—specifically designated for this matter, who look into it. They decide whether to do it or not, or at such a time, or in five minutes, or ten minutes, or less, or more, depending on... If it is Islamic, then it is Islamic; and if it is not Islamic but permissible, then it is permissible, according to... it may be... satanic.

Question : But Shaykh, regarding the Islamic recordings—may Allah reward them with good—they have many of them, and they are free from music, or some of them have something mixed with music. Is music forbidden?

Answer: I do not know, by Allah, I have no information about this. But the rule is conformity with the Shari'ah and contradiction of it. So that which contains music is prohibited.